LITERATURE REVIEW:

Consultation of a variety of published scientific articles conclusively articulates

that light traps, modified to trap and kill fleas are the most effective method of capturing
a wide array of specimens, as fleas are more or less universally attracted to light
sources. Specific trapping protocol is to include two different varieties of incandescent
light trapping techniques depending on specific location of trapping (indoor, outdoor,
high foot traffic, etc). In the case of in-home, low foot traffic areas, trapping techniques
will entail homemade light traps consisting of incandescent bulb lamps suspended a few
inches (3-4) directly above a tray containing water and Dawn dish soap. Bowls used
were prepared with petroleum jelly around the to ensure that the fleas could not escape
once they were trapped (Ju Jiang, Alice N. Maina, Darryn L. Knobel, Sarah Cleaveland,
Anne Laudisoit, Kabura Wamburu, Eric Ogola, Philippe Parola, Robert F. Breiman, M.
Kariuki Njenga, and Allen L. Richards, 2013). This specific trapping protocol was to be
used for areas in characterized by low foot traffic, as they are easily spilled or kicked
over which would cause displacement of collected specimens and inaccurate values.
For the purpose of collecting specimens in areas characterized by multiple
possible disruptions (i.e. pedestrians bumping into collection bowls), lamps designed
according to (Dryden and Broce, 1993-Primary) are to be utilized. Since these traps do
not entail use of water bowl to trap, they are an optimal choice for outdoor and busy
indoor areas. Lamps are homemade and consist of a clear acrylic cylinder containing an
incandescent bulb of a specific wavelength emittance, mentioned later. The acrylic
cylinder is to be coated with Sticky Stuff adhesive and protected from contamination by
a large-hole mesh enclosure which was supported by two aluminum plates, each placed
at opposite ends of the cylinder. The resulting structure is to resemble an insect lamp in
general structure and shape with a narrow, sticky cylinder encased in a cage-like larger
cylinder contained between two aluminum plates.
It is to be noted that fleas oviposit in areas where host species, i.e. dogs, cats,
etc, sleep. Fleas are generally attracted to the host through a variety of chemosensory
cues, thermal cues, light/dark contrasting images and vibrations (Muller, Dryden, Revay,
Kravchenko, Broce, Hampton, Junnila, Schlein, 2011) all of which appear to indicate
potential host presence (Rust and Dryden, 1997). Within a few days of host detection
and collection of a blood meal, the female oviposits and eggs hatch within 1-6 days after
oviposition, depending on environmental factors such as host availability and abiotic
factors including temperature and precipitation (Dryden and Rust, 1994-Secondary).
With this information in mind, trapping protocol will entail location of traps in areas
where flea eclosion is likely most common, i.e. near patient pet beds, common play
areas, and shelter kennels (Dryden, Payne, and Smith et al.-Primary). Light trapping of
both methods is to done over the course of a 24 hour period, with a minimum of two
repetitions to provide for maximum accuracy of population estimation (Dryden, Smith,
Chwala, et.al, 2015). Fleas have also been found to be attracted to some wavelengths
of light over others, specifically 500-525 nm (green-yellow light) over white light (Muller,
Dryden, Revay, Kravchenko, Broce, Hampton, Junnila, Schlein, 2011-Primary). For this
reason, along with capacity for heat emission, lights used in this collection survey are to
be incandescent light bulbs within the specified wavelength range to obtain optimum
specimen numbers.

Trapping protocol for the common cat flea:

For the purpose of each patient, traps will be set up on a case-by-case basis.
Also note: number of traps will be determined on a case by case basis on the grounds
that homes and workplaces are of varying sizes, amount of carpeted area, and number
of animals. Tentatively, 2-15 traps of either variety are to be placed in areas likely to
contain fleas, based on the standards established in the previous section.
-Cecil Abril (petsitter): the victim was, assuming the theory that patients were infected
via flea vector, likely infected in one of her places of business. To determine likely origin
of flea presence, traps of the bowl and light variety will be placed in her home,
specifically in the general vicinity of the location that she usually stored the toys and
beds of the clients she pet sits for. Bowl and light traps will also be placed in the homes
of all of her clients, specifically in areas where pets tend to rest or spend much of their
time. Also, cylindrical intermittent light traps will be placed for the purpose of getting a
baseline value for flea populations that pets might have been exposed to.
-James Hess (Animal Care specialist): For this patient, trap data will be required for
both the home and workplace. Light traps will be set up throughout the residence,
paying particular regard to areas where work attire is stored after each wear, closet
areas, and near any bedding the patient might have allowed to be exposed to fleas.
Light and bowl traps as well as intermittent light traps will be used, depending on
specific location. In the workplace, patient work areas will have traps installed, again
dependent on traffic in the specific location.
-Lora Cistrunk (Novelist): This patient was known to have been exposed to fleas
within the confines of her residence. With this being said, infestation of the residence is
well documented and a likely source is identifiable. Seeing as the patients cat
reportedly developed a case of fleas immediately following an escape from the house, it
may be logically decided that the case was domestic and originally located in Cistrunks
yard. Trapping in this home is to include light and bowl traps distributed throughout the
house, again paying particular regard to areas frequented by the animals. Outdoor traps
will be intermittent light traps of the design previously mentioned, as bowl traps are not
practical for an outdoor setting. The grooming salon frequented by the patient will also
be trapped in using intermittent and bowl traps as necessary.
-Madayne Richer (international airline/ship stewardess):trapping would entail bowl
traps distributed throughout the victims, as well in their unnamed pet sitters home and
in the office from which the individual exterminator she hired to manage her flea
problem was based. These traps will again be placed near pet sleeping areas, near
bedding and clothing storage in the case of the pet sitter, and in the van and the office
of the exterminator. Determination as to which trap will be most appropriate will be done
based on pedestrian and disruption presence.

-Marc Albert (businessman/stockbroker): Seeing as this patient was an exotic pet

owner who maintained his animals professionally, it will be necessary to place traps in
the patients groomers shop as well as in the victims home. Trap placement, variety
and number will be determined as before.
-Marc Pace (vet tech, grooming specialist): Due to the frequent exposure of the
victim to exotic pets, the veterinary office where the victim worked will need to be
trapped in, again entailing bowl and sticky traps on a location by location basis. Areas of
uniform storage and any grooming tool storage areas will be trapped within, and hotels
to which exotic animals under the patients care visited should be trapped within, though
this method may be considered impractical. The home and work facility will be trapped
within, determinant on environmental factors.
-Rosemarie Avery (housekeeper for high-end homeowners): Given the unique
nature of exposure of this to a variety of different homes and pets, the homes of the
patients clients, preferably for at least the past year, should be trapped within using the
previously determined method of deciding upon trap variety and location of trap. The
patients home should be trapped within as well, paying particular regard to areas that
contain work gear and clothing.
-Sadie Waring (inventory control specialist, airport): Isolation of individual animals
to which the patient was exposed is both tedious and necessary to this specific case.
List of all cat or cat flea possible hosts that have passed through the airport, preferably
for the past year, are necessary and trapping protocol will be applied to each individual
home. The home of the victim will also be trapped in, paying particular attention to work
attire storage areas. Trap variety determined on a location by location basis.
-Vickie Ehrlekrona (online Serval adoption agency owner): Trapping protocol is to
be applied to both the homes of the victim and the homes of all adoptive pet owners for
the past year whose pets have the capacity to host fleas. Traps will be established in all
pet owner homes, as well as that of the victim. Trap variety determined on a location by
location basis.
-Yolande Geraghty (starbucks manager): The home of the victim, paying particular
regard to locations where the cat slept before it died, are to be trapped in. The variety of
trap will be determined on a case by case basis, and multiple evenly spaced traps are to
be used, given that the home was infested with fleas.

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